IV 



tlie different pha^nomena in thefyfiem, and, tliat it de^^radls fromtbe 

 honour of the Autlior and Governor of the World : And he gives us 

 liis opinion on the fubje6l, in thefe words : * '• Since the prefent is a 

 " philolbphical enquiry only, we (hall only, at prefent, confult the 

 " light of reafon in the formation of tlie World, which might proba- 

 " bly bs after the following manner. The great and wife Author of 

 " things, lirft forming the univerfal undiftinguiflicd Matter, put its 

 " leveral parts into various motions, by wiiich they muli needs be di- 

 " vldcdinto innumerous particles of different bulks, figures, and fitu- 

 " ations ; guiding and over-ruling the motions of thoie parts, by his 

 '• wifdom and power, fo as to difpofe them into that beautiful and 

 '• orderly frame we call the World ; fome being fo contrived, as to 

 " form feeds, or the feminal principles of Plants and Animals. Be- 

 '• fides, he fettled fuch laws or rules of local motion, amongft the parts 

 " of Matter, that, by his ordinary concourfc, the parts of tlie Univerfe 

 " oncecompleated, fhouldcontinuetheoeconomy of the Univerfe, and 

 " propagate the fpecies of living creatures." And again, he lays, 

 " If we fuppofe the univerfal laws of motion to be ellabliflied, and 

 " that, by their conventions, the feminal principles of various things 

 " were contrived, by the local motion of Matter, Ikilfully guided at the 

 " beginning, and that God's ordinary and general concourfe, contri- 

 " buted to perfe6l the Univerfe, and continue it fo, there is no need of 

 '•' any diflinc^l powerful intelligent Being to aflill him, as Nature is 

 " reprefented ; fincethe Phtenomena wliich occur, will flow from the 

 " mere fabrick and conflitution of the World. " 



The learned Dr. Mead has a paffage on this fubjeft of Nature, 

 when £fj-)plied to animated bodies, which I the rather quote, as it con- 

 tains a reproof to thofe vifionary Philofophers I have mentioned. 



•f- " Whereas the Word Nature, is made ufe of by Phyficians, in 



* Enquiry into the received noton of Nature, 

 t Mead on the Small Pox, Chap. II. 



